SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT

Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to a king's son.

May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice.

May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor.

In his days may righteousness flourish and peace abound, until the moon is no more.

Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things.

Blessed be his glorious name forever; may his glory fill the whole earth.

* HYMN No. 138 Savior of the Nations, Come

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Lord Jesus, we confess our willingness to be loved but also our reluctance to love.

We confess our readiness to accept your forgiveness but also our refusal to forgive.

We confess our eagerness to grasp the life you offer but also our resistance to follow you with our whole being.

Forgive us, gracious God.

(Silent personal prayers for confession)

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

This is God’s Word of grace:

We are accepted, we are forgiven, we are loved.

SUMMARY OF THE LAW

Herein is the wisdom of God for the people of God.

May God grant us the grace and courage to live in this way.

Gloria Patri (pew card)

ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTING Jerry Good & Marion Durney

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world; the one who follows me will not walk in darkness but have the light of life.”

Come and lead your people into the way of salvation.

In Isaiah 42:16, God says, “I will lead the blind by a road they do not know, by the paths they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I will do and I will not forsake them.

We light these candles as a sign of the coming light of Christ.

(Lighting of the second candle)

Come, Lord Jesus, our light and our life.

Until that day, let us walk in the light of the Lord.

JUNIOR SERMON

ANTHEM: E’en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come Manz

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

Lord’s Prayer (pew card)

Prayer Response O Jesus Franck

* HYMN No. 132 Comfort, Comfort Now My People

PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION

Lord God, may your Word be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.

Speak, O Lord, for your servants are listening.

SCRIPTURE READINGS: Joan Werbel & Dorothea Zelnick

Isaiah 11:1-10 p. 558

Romans 15:4-13 p. 924

This is the Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

SERMON Rev. Blaine Crawford

"Walking in the Spirit of the Messiah"

* CONFESSION OF FAITH:

Apostles’ Creed (pew card)

OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS

Offertory: There’s a Light-a-comin’ Lantz III

* The Doxology (pew card)

Prayer of Dedication

* HYMN No. 133 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

* BENEDICTION

Response

POSTLUDE

If you are in need of prayer, you are invited to the front of the sanctuary at the conclusion of the service. One of the elders of the church will be available to pray for you.

All are invited to join us downstairs in Gessner Hall for coffee hour.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

December 4, 2016

OUR FLOWERS – The left arrangement is given by Mary Moder in loving memory of her husband Harvey Moder. The right arrangement is given by the Ridder Church Renewal Team. The white roses are given in memory of our children who are safely home with our Heavenly Father.

Are you anticipating a Blue Christmas? For many, “the most wonderful time of the year” is anything but. Join us at Church on the Hill for an inspirational service of song, meditation, comfort, and hope. This will be an ecumenical service with Grace Episcopal Church of Whitestone and First Presbyterian Church of Whitestone.

CRAWFORD HOLIDAY PARTY - Saturday, December 17, 3:00-6:30 P.M. Blaine and Brittnee Crawford invite the congregation to the parsonage (168-03 35th Avenue) for a holiday open house. Drop in as you are able--there will be plenty of food and holiday cheer!

White Christmas Service - Sunday, December 18, 11:00 A.M. Tableau of the Nativity of Christ. Bring your White Christmas gifts to be presented. Pick up your cards for the gifts in Gessner Hall.

AUCTION 2017- Saturday, January 7, in Gessner Hall. If you have small, easily transportable items to donate, WE WILL PICK UP YOUR DONATIONS. We do not take very heavy items or large furniture. Call the Church Office or Emerson Chen (917) 881-1868.